More than half of doctors believe the laws on
cannabis are too strict and one in three want
the drug legalised, a survey has found.
Eight out of 10 doctors say they would
prescribe cannabis to patients with serious
illnesses such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or
cancer, if they were allowed to.
A quarter of the 1,000 doctors questioned said
cannabis was less addictive than tobacco,
alcohol, prescribed drugs or illegal drugs.
But they raised concerns about the lack of
scientific research into the effects of cannabis
on driving and its links with cancer.
The survey, carried out
by Medix UK - a website
for doctors, revealed
54% believe the current
law on possessing
cannabis is too strict.
About a third said
cannabis should be
legalised now.
While 80% said they
would prescribe the
drug to patients with
serious illnesses, many said they would give it
to people with other medical ailments.
One in five would consider prescribing it for
patients with back pain and 16% would
consider it as an alternative to traditional
anti-depressants.
However, some doctors expressed concerns,
with half said they knew of patients who had
gone on to harder drugs after smoking
cannabis.
Admissions
The findings come just weeks after Health
Minister Yvette Cooper and eight members of
the Tory shadow cabinet admitted they had
tried the drug.
They made their admissions after Tory shadow
home secretary Ann Widdecombe proposed
£100 on-the-spot fines for anyone caught with
an illegal drug.
She later backed down, after police chiefs and
drugs charities criticised the policy.
Earlier this month, Professor Tony Moffat, chief
scientist at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
predicted that cannabis would be legalised for
medical use within two years.
Two large scale clinical trials are currently
being conducted into the benefits and safety
of cannabis compounds.
The British Medical Association welcomed the
survey findings. It published a report in 1997
which advocated prescribing cannabis to
alleviate the symptoms of illnesses like MS.
A spokeswoman said: "This survey of doctor
opinion fits together very strongly with the
BMA's report on cannabis published in
November 1997.
"Our report identifies a number of hazards
associated with smoking cannabis, such as its
high tar content, the aggravation of psychotic
illness, and other problems such as loss of
motivation and libido."
But she added: "There are a number of
patients who find that cannabis relieves their
symptoms in a way that other drugs and
painkillers do not.
"We believe that for long term clinical use,
properly developed medicines containing the
beneficial components of cannabis are a better
option than simply smoking the raw product."
Clare Hodges, a member of the pressure group
Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics and an MS
sufferer, said the survey findings reflected the
fact that patients were telling doctors they
were using the drug to alleviate their
symptoms.
"This confirms our experience that doctors are
very supportive of the thousands of patients
who are using cannabis to treat themselves.
"These results are also a tribute to the
patients who have been telling their doctors
that cannabis has helped them.
"Doctors are now sitting up and taking note,
and seeing for themselves that cannabis can
be therapeutic."
--
Cheers,
Joao Paulo - Salvador,BA,Brazil
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